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APRIL 2017 - We are aware that patients are currently experiencing difficulties in accessing GP appointments; this is due to ongoing sickness.

We are making every effort to increase availability by engaging locum GPs where possible and ask you to bear with us during this difficult time.

We are also aware that this has affected the availability of online appointments for which we apologise. We have made changes which will hopefully have rectified this problem going forward.

Change of Training GPs

Dr Sarah Shooter has now completed her GP Training and will be leaving us on Friday 24th November. We wish her well in her future career.

As we are a training practice it means we will be welcoming a new GP Registrar in her place. This training is an essential part of the Doctors transition from Hospital to General Practice.

Dr Gemma Brierley will join us on Monday 28th November for continuation of her training.

MESSAGE FROM THE DOCTORS

The Doctors have requested that our reception staff ask you for a brief reason for your appointment, including when booking online. This is to assist you in accessing the most appropriate service. They will also ask you for your preferred contact number. We do appreciate the difficulties patients face in the current climate when all our available appointments have been taken. We would kindly ask you to consider other options recommended such as GP appointments at the extended hours service at Bath Street, Widnes walk-in centre, your local pharmacy and Bath Street Wellbeing Centre for family planning and sexual health. The receptionists will have details regarding these servcies. I would remind you that we provide 4 extended hours clinics each week on Monday and Wednesday until 8.30 in the evening. You can also access a range of services including booking appointments online.

YOUR GP CARES - see links included on the main page (see below)

We usually close the last Thursday afternoon of every month for staff training.

We can provide a chaperone, hearing loop or interpreter services. If you need any of these services please advise the receptionist when booking your appointment.

Unless there is an exceptional circumstance or a patient has a long term condition patients will need to buy the following self-care medicines over-the-counter:

Pain killers for minor aches and pains

Tonics, vitamins and health supplements

Ear wax removers

Lozenges, throat sprays, mouthwashes, gargles and toothpastes

Indigestion remedies for occasional use

Creams for bruising, tattoos, and scars

Hair removal creams

Moisturisers and bath additives for dry skin

Sun creams

Foods and food supplements

Pain relief cream/ointment for short-term use

Oral antihistamines for hay fever

Decongestant nasal sprays and tablets

Teething gels and mouth ulcer products

Vaginal moisturisers (for example lubricant gels and creams)

Warts and verrucae paints

Heparinoid gel/cream

Antiperspirants

Antifungal treatments (for example for athletes foot)

Treatments for bites and stings

Treatments for cold sores

Antibacterial eye drops

Treatment for diarrhoea

Head lice treatments

Treatments for infant colic

Creams/ointments for nappy rash

Threadworm treatments

Treatments for vaginal thrush

Haemorrhoids treatment

Cough preparations

Eye care products (for example blepharitis wipes)

Probiotics

Treatments for mild acne

Dandruff and cradle cap treatments

Baby milks (unless a clinical need for a specialist milk)

Repeat Prescriptions

By arrangement with your doctor, you may obtain repeat prescriptions using the tear-off portion of your prescription form. Please retain this form for future use; doing so will speed up the process for both you and the surgery. The form may be either handed in at the surgery or posted to the surgery. In all cases a written request will be required. Prescriptions will be posted back to you if you provide a stamped addressed envelope.

Please do not make an appointment for a repeat prescription or ask for a repeat prescription during a consultation with a doctor as this wastes valuable time.

If you prefer, you may order order online by following the link at the top of this page and completing a simple registration.

Please order your repeat items in time. Patients who forget to do so place undue pressures on the service that can affect the turnround for other patients.

You will need to order early if your prescription is due during a Bank Holiday period or if you are going away on holiday. Please specify the reason why you are ordering early when you place your repeat request to avoid any delay.

Prescriptions issued by a hospital should be dispensed at the hospital. If you wish to have the item dealt with at the practice you must give us the usual 48 hours' notice. Items will only be issued on receipt of a typed, detailed letter from the hospital.

When ordering medication please allow extra time for medication that does not appear on your tick slip as a repeat item. Our in-house Pharmacist team are not reviewing requests from patients for acute items. These are items that do not appear on the tick slip and that you have to hand write on to your request. This is to ensure correct use of your medication. If required and used regularly the Pharmacist may add this item to your repeat list. Please not that you MAY get a call from our pharmacist team to discuss this.

Your local pharmacy may be able to collect your prescription on your behalf; please speak to them direct to arrange this.

Medication Reviews

Patients on repeat medication will be asked to see a doctor, nurse practitioner or practice nurse at least once a year to review these regular medications and notification should appear on your repeat slip.

Please ensure that you book an appropriate appointment to avoid unnecessary delays to further prescriptions.

Please allow two full working days for prescriptions to be processed and remember to take weekends and bank holidays into account.

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is an NHS service. It gives you the chance to change how your GP sends your prescription to the place you choose to get your medicines or appliances from.

What does this mean for you?

If you collect your repeat prescriptions from your GP you will not have to visit your GP practice to pick up your paper prescription. Instead, your GP will send it electronically to the place you choose, saving you time.

You will have more choice about where to get your medicines from because they can be collected from a pharmacy near to where you live, work or shop.

You may not have to wait as long at the pharmacy as there will be time for your repeat prescriptions to be ready before you arrive.

Is this service right for you?

Yes, if you have a stable condition and you:

don’t want to go to your GP practice every time to collect your repeat prescription.

collect your medicines from the same place most of the time or use a prescription collection service now.

It may not be if you:

don’t get prescriptions very often.

pick up your medicines from different places.

How can you use EPS?

You need to choose a place for your GP practice to electronically send your prescription to. This is called nomination. You can choose:

a pharmacy.

a dispensing appliance contractor (if you use one).

your dispensing GP practice (if you are eligible).

Ask any pharmacy or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS or your GP practice to add your nomination for you. You don’t need a computer to do this.

Can I change my nomination or cancel it and get a paper prescription?

Yes you can. If you don’t want your prescription to be sent electronically tell your GP. If you want to change or cancel your nomination speak to any pharmacist or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS, or your GP practice. Tell them before your next prescription is due or your prescription may be sent to the wrong place.

Is EPS reliable, secure and confidential?

Yes. Your electronic prescription will be seen by the same people in GP practices, pharmacies and NHS prescription payment and fraud agencies that see your paper prescription now.

Sometimes dispensers may see that you have nominated another dispenser. For example, if you forget who you have nominated and ask them to check or, if you have nominated more than one dispenser.

Prescriptions Charges and Exemptions

The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.

NHS charges

These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.

Prescription (per item): £8.60

3-month prepayment certificate (PPC): £29.10

12-month PPC: £104.00

If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 15 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.